Back in 2010, Mr. Gustavo Ron brought to the screen Sally Nicholls debut 2008 novel,Ways to Live Forever. Documenting the life of a boy suffering from leukemia, the films stars many talented individuals, two of which are celebrating a little something special today. Actors Ben Chaplin and Emilia Fox not only star in this heartfelt film but also share the same birthday!

Born Emilia Rose Elizabeth Fox, this lovely English actress became widely known for her role as Dr. Nikki Alexander on the BBC crime drama,Silent Witness, after joining the cast in 2004. Fox has continued to have a very successful career in both TV and Film having starred inMerlinas Morgause,Flashbacks of A Foolas Sister Jean, and of course in our very own Ways to Live Forever as the mother. These are but a few projects that Fox has taken part in!

Mr. Ben Chaplin was born Benedict John Greenwood on July 31st of 1969 in England. After being applauded for his performance as Tom Wingfield in Sam Mendes’ stage production of The Glass Menagerie (1995), he went on to star in both TV and film productions, some of his most recent being,Mad Dogsas Joel,Little Boyas Ben Eagle, and like Ms. Fox, Ways to Live Forever as the father.

From all of us at WWMPC we would like to wish you both a very happy and joyous birthday, cheers to you, Ben and Emilia!

“Consent” is a play by Nina Raine, and it tells the story of a group of lawyers dealing with a rape case and how it affects their personal lives. Ben plays a barrister, and to prepare for the role he consulted with real barristers in order to relate the legal world to the stage.

To quote Ben Chaplin, “We felt a massive kinship with barristers.” It will be interesting to see how Ben brings his character to life. Acting for the stage will prove to be quite different than acting for a film. In the film, there's room for mistakes, retakes, and edits, but on the stage, an actor must keep his composure throughout a scene and be ready to feed off the energy of the other players.

We encourage our readers to check out this review on Variety and we hope that our friends in the UK get a chance to see this one! To quote this review, “‘Consent’ is a watchmaker’s play, full of tiny moving parts. The whole thing pings with questions of consent — not just sexual but personal: set-ups, sacrifices, and unforeseen consequences.”

By definition, a parent is a person that brings up and cares for a child. Parenting a child comes with ups and downs and is never easy. Every day, parents push themselves in order to protect and provide for their family. It is a very crucial role that takes a lot of discipline and compassion to assure the proper development of their child. It is not a temporary job. From the birth of the child, taking his first breaths of the real world until the end, parents will be there. This Parent's Day, we recognize that being a parent can be very stressful at times, but it can also be something very beautiful.

Where would people be without parents? Without any guidance, children run the risk of becoming delinquents and unaware of what is virtuous and moral. Some parents have it easier than others. Often, people think that once they are ready to have children, everything will be perfect. In regards to parents who have a child with special needs, it wasn’t what they expected. They are placed in a position of constantly having to care for another person powered by their endless love; it’s a characteristic that every parent seems to hold.

As shown in the movie Ways to Live Forever, being the parent of a child with an illness/disability can be an emotional roller coaster. In the movie, the main character named Sam, portrayed by Robbie Kay, is diagnosed with leukemia. As the movie goes on, it shows him and his newly made best friend, also terminal, attempting to complete things on a bucket list and trying to “live forever” through the artwork of video recording and writing a book. It also depicts how the parents of these children go through this way of life providing a better existence for their children who are ill.

Kudos to all the parents out there who have children with disabilities and illnesses. Parents Day is a day to celebrate and thank all parents for their hard work and unfailing support for their kids. To the parents whose kids aren’t disabled or have an illness, take this moment to be grateful and realize what others are going through. Parenting children with special needs may apply to everyone including celebrities. Here is a list of celebrities that have children who have special needs.

Ben Chaplin turned 46 on July 31st! Ben, born and raised in the UK, is a notable actor with roles in many films from the 1990s up until the present. In 1992, Chaplin landed his first break starring in "Bye Bye Baby" for Channel Four. He was later cast in The Remains of the Day. Continuing to advance his career, Chaplin garnered rave reviews as Tom in Sam Mendes' stage production of The Glass Menagerie (1995). Some of his more recent notable films include the independent film Ways to Live Forever, Cinderella, and the 2015 British TV series Mad Dogs. Chaplin has received a few awards during his acting career such as the Olivier Award nomination for Best Supporting Performer in The Glass Menagerie, and a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actor in The Retreat from Moscow. Ben is now appearing on the CW network in Dates, a British romantic comedy import about personal relationships.

Ben will actually be starring in a new British television show “Dates” which is set to be released in the U.S. soon. There are currently nine episodes currently acquired. The show centers around couples first dates after meeting via online dating. The premier dates are not currently set, however they show release is supposedly set for sometime this summer.

A few interesting facts about Chaplin is that his real name is actually Benedict John Greenwood and he became interested in acting after attending a school play. He later attended and graduated from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Ben Chaplin is known for concentrating on risk-taking, quality movies rather than mainstream and Hollywood films.

It is not easy for comedians to transition from stand-up to big leading roles. However, comedian and actor Kevin James, better known for his role as Doug Heffernan in the sitcom, The King of Queens, was successful in getting several film roles alongside major actors.

One of his first film roles was in the movie Hitch, starring Will Smith, in which James happens to steal the show. In his next gig, Kevin partnered up with Adam Sandler for the movie, I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry and then his most successful film to date was Grown Ups. As of now, James continues to play comedic roles, such as in Paul Blart: Mall Cop and soon to be out Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2.

But in another of his upcoming projects, James showcases his talent by being in a more serious, yet playful family film, in the upcoming Little Boy as Dr. Fox. The plot concerns an 8-year old boy who is willing to do whatever it takes to end World War II so he can bring his father home. The story reveals the indescribable love a father has for his little boy and the love a son has for his father. The movie includes well-known actors that James will be sharing the screen with. This includes Michael Rapaport who plays a major part in the movie as the boy’s father, Ben Chaplin, Oscar nominee Emily Watson, Oscar nominee Tom Wilkinson, and David Henrie.

There are many versions of telling the story Cinderella such as Ella Enchanted, A Cinderella Story, and Ever After. But the most recent, live-action release of Cinderella is the one to beat. Audiences should know the film stays true to character with a more faithful adaptation of the source material than the animated classic Disney movie.

Critics are raving how enchanting and fantastic the movie was. The director Kenneth Branagh did an excellent job on the movie by bringing out the story with the success of set design, special effects, and getting an amazing cast. “The production design by Dante Ferretti is lush and regal in the palace, country-modest at Ella's family's rural estate”, says Betsy Sharkey from LA Times. Sharkey continues describing Ella and the step-sisters dresses from being over-the-top crinoline pomp to the flowing softness of Ella’s rag dress.

Another review by Richard Roeper of Chicago Sun-Times says, “Branagh makes use of cutting-edge special effects without overdoing it.” Roeper says there was a wickedly, funny sequence with Helena Bonham Carter as the Fairy Godmother, along with the transformation of mice into horses and a giant pumpkin into a golden carriage.

Ben Chaplin, who plays Cinderella’s father, works with recognizable and talented actors such as Cate Blanchett, Helen Bonham Carter, and Lily James in the movie. WFAA special contributor, Hayden Pittman, says the casting is terrific, “Blanchett portrays her character perfectly with just enough wickedness to not frighten the field mice away.”

You can also catch Ben in Ways to Live Forever, distributed by World Wide Motion Pictures. Ways to Live Forever is available on Vimeo and DVD, and Cinderella is out in theaters now. Be sure how Ben plays a father figures in both movies.